Ice Climbing Courses

Our ice climbing courses are designed to help you elevate your skillset, whether you are new to the sport or have climbed ice previously. Finding success as an ice climber is almost entirely dependent on developing good technique, some of which can seem counter-intuitive. The curriculum for each course provides climbers a solid foundation of basic skills, and then builds upon those skills in an easy to understand progression led by one of our AMGA-certified guides. All of our instructors are highly trained and experienced professional guides who love to help climbers exceed their expectations and have a passion for climbing ice themselves.

Mountain Trip offers ice climbing courses outside of Telluride, Colorado, home to some of the greatest concentration of world-class ice in North America. Whether you’re looking to progress your skills as an ice climber, from leading or climbing a higher grade, or simply to pick up a new way to have fun in the alpine, our courses can help you achieve these goals while exploring beautiful zones of the San Juan Mountains. We would love to share our passion for ice with you!

Intro to Ice Course

This course is intended for climbers interested in learning the skills necessary to efficiently climb moderately steep ice. Ice grades are defined by the duration of their steepest pitches, and this course is intended to help you move comfortably on terrain to “Water Ice Grade 4” (WI4), meaning consistent sections of 70-80 degree (vertical or nearly vertical) ice, with fairly long segments of route that kick back to a fully vertical 90 degrees.

If you are first time climber but drawn to ice, or an experienced rock climber looking to try out the sport, this course is a great way to test it out and develop a foundation for moderate ice climbing. The San Juans are home to some of the most amazing ice routes in the United States and provide a great training ground to progress into big, iconic routes like Bridal Veil Falls and the Ames Ice Hose. These inspiring climbs provoke the imagination and entice us from afar, but require diligence and attention to building and improving your technique.

This course is a two day, relatively intensive introduction to top rope ice climbing. It will focus on climbing basics including, climbing terminology and communication, best practices for top rope belay and lowering and basic risk management in Ice climbing. In addition to the basic, we will dive into ice climbing equipment, movement and climbing technique suitable for WI3 and some WI4.

Mountain Trip will provide all the necessary technical climbing equipment to all climbers, unless you would prefer to use your own. We make sure that all equipment that we provide to our climbers is top-of-the-line and the newest technology available.

Upcoming Course Dates:

February 22-23, 2019

March 8-9, 2019

Advanced/Backcountry Ice Climbing Workshop

If you have climbed ice several times, either guided or unguided, this course will help you further develop the fluid skills necessary for climbing consistently steep ice. There is little that comes naturally about climbing vertical frozen waterfalls; let us help you progress from moderate to steep ice! This course will help to provide the a good base of skills and the development of those skills essential to climb, and eventually lead, big routes in the San Juans and around the country.

This course is geared towards the experienced rock climber who already has a lot of vertical awareness and rope skills, or to the novice ice climber hoping to bring their climbing to the next level.

The course can also be taken in conjunction with the Intro to Ice Course, or booked on a private, custom basis at any time throughout the season.

Intended Course Outcomes:

Comfortably climb WI4 and aspire to begin climbing WI5.

Become familiar with placing and removing ice screws for protection.

Be able to build and clean anchors suitable for top-rope ice climbing using proper practices.

Develop the skill set required for following multi-pitch ice routes

Read ice conditions and terrain

Evaluate conditions (ie. avalanche hazard, weather)

Upcoming Course Dates:

February 24-25, 2019

March 10-11, 2019

In all of our courses, we provide instruction in the latest techniques that will help you push yourself and improve as a climber and can accompany you on high, challenging routes. Emphasis on efficiency and how to organize your systems will help you build a foundation, which will help prepare you for your next big route or just help you have more fun. If the scheduled dates for these courses don’t work for you, please get in touch with us to learn more about booking intensive ice climbing instruction on a private basis.

Mountain Trip will provide all the necessary technical climbing equipment to all climbers, unless you would prefer to use your own. We make sure that all equipment that we provide to our climbers is top-of-the-line and the most technology available.

Customized Private Course Options

If you’re an experienced ice climber looking to hone specific skills and take your personal climbing to the next level, our AMGA-certified guides can provide expert instruction, invaluable guidance and in-depth first-hand knowledge of San Juan ice.

Learn to Lead Ice Clinic: For experienced ice climbers looking to take their climbing to a higher level, and begin to lead moderate pitches of ice while placing ice screws.

Intro to Mixed Climbing: In-depth instruction on dry tooling technique and various mixed climbing skills that are often essential for big winter alpine routes.

Multi-Pitch Seminar: Learn techniques specific to climbing multiple pitches of ice, including rope management and mitigating the risks of overhead hazard and exposure.

Backcountry and Alpine Ice: Scouting and climbing less-established, remote ice routes is a very involved but rewarding challenge. Learn skills for avoiding hazard while seeking out the more “off-the-beaten-path” adventure while experiencing the best of the San Juan’s lesser known ice.

Intro to Alpine Climbing: If you’re aspiring to climb a big alpine ice route like the Moose’s Tooth in Alaska, it’s essential to practice steep snow and ice climbing in a harsh and remote environment; the mountains surrounding Telluride offer the chance to practice big mountain skills in a lower consequence environment with guides who spend a lot of their time among the high mountains of the world.

The following is a general list of required gear for ice climbing with Mountain Trip. Climbers joining us will receive an updated, comprehensive equipment list that may supersede this list. In general, you want a selection of warm layers that can work together. Clothing that works well for a day of skiing will work fine, but dedicated climbing clothing works better.

Many of the items on the list need to fit you well in order for you to fully enjoy your experience in the mountains. Please plan ahead with equipment purchased for your trip so you can be certain that your gear fits you well. Recommended items reflect the opinions of our guides. We have used and have faith in all of our recommendations, but they may not necessarily fit or work for you.

Please follow this list closely and do not hesitate to call us for clarifications or to solicit an opinion about anything you are considering. There is a good selection of gear available in Telluride and Ouray, and we have a good selection of loaner and rental gear, so just let us know what you might need.

Footwear

Gear

Description

Guide's Pick

Climbing Boots

Technical routes or steep day climbs are often best climbed by wearing light weight, insulated boots. Waterproof and breathable, these give a climber more "feel" than do double boots. The caveat is that they are hard to keep dry over time, so certain double boots are better for technical alpine routes. Our favorite double boot for climbing technical routes is the La Sportiva Spantik. There are many great single boots on the market, and one of our favorites is the La Sportiva Batura 2.0 GTX.

Gaiters

Gaiters are required unless your pants fit tightly around your boot, many boots have built in gaiters.

Size this layer to fit over your light fleece hoody and wind shell, and it is often layered underneath your expedition parka. Synthetic is easier to deal with and not worry about getting wet than a similar down filled layer. A hood on this layer in mandatory!
*** Guides Tip! Use two lightweight puffy layers in the early season or if you are worried about being cold. A Micro or Nano Puff jacket with a Ultra Light Down Jacket or Vest allows versatile layering options.

Many high alpine peaks are cold and dry. We are huge fans of very lightweight softshell wind jackets for high, dry, cold peaks. Weighing just a few ounces, these can be carried in your pocket or in the lid of your pack for rapid deployment. This layer is used in addition to your more waterproof hard shell jacket.

Soft Shell pants are the workhorse on Denali, you'll be wearing these day in and day out on most expeditions. On peaks like Denali and Aconcagua, you can wear them in lieu of your hard shell pants for much of the expedition.

When it's raining a soft shell pant just isn't enough and you'll need a waterproof "hard shell" pant, Gore-Tex or equivalent. These should be as light weight as possible, fully separating side zippers will help to get them on without taking off your boots. On some peaks, you might carry hard shell pants for the lower mountain, but switch to soft shell pants for the colder and drier upper mountain.

Packs and Duffels

Gear

Description

Guide's Pick

Climbing Pack

Suitable climbing packs will be 30 - 45 liters in volume and have the capability of easily attaching crampons, and ice axes if used for a day of ice climbing. For a day climbs, any pack in the 30 - 45 liter range will work, you should consider the weight of the pack carefully. Alpine routes require larger (45L) packs that also let you strap your sleeping pad to the outside.

An aspect of technical climbing is hanging in a harness. Having a padded, comfortable harness will make you much happier than will a thinly padded, alpine harness, and, should you find yourself at a semi hanging belay, your legs are less likely to fall asleep from lack of circulation.

Select a pair 12-point Mountaineering Crampons that fit your boots well. Step-in or strap versions work equally well; just make sure they fit your mountain boots and overboots. You may need to lengthen your crampons to accommodate your overboots, please make sure you can make this adjustment in the field. Aluminum crampons are not acceptable for expeditions.

Refunds and Cancellations

Mountain Trip recognizes how difficult and disappointing it can be for climbers who must cancel climbs which they have planned for a long time. Climbers must also recognize that, due to the nature of planning climbs and contracting guides for specific dates, Mountain Trip also accrues significant expenses in organizing a day of ice climbing. We must therefore adhere to a strict refund policy for all climbers. Trip cancellation and travel insurance is generally available for all expeditions. U.S. and Canadian residents should contact us for more information regarding travel insurance. Our refund and cancellation policy is outlined below.

• We require payment in full for all of our Colorado Ice Climbing trips. Submission of payment constitutes your agreement to our Refund and Cancellation Policy.

• Any cancellation 7+ days before your scheduled date to climb will receive a 50% refund of all fees paid to Mountain Trip.

• No refunds will be provided for cancellations occurring within the last 7 days prior to your scheduled date for ice climbing.

• All requests for refunds must be made in writing and received in our Colorado office.

• Mountain Trip reserves the right to cancel a climb prior to the departure date for any reason. In such an event, all monies collected by Mountain Trip from team members for that climb shall be promptly refunded. This is the extent of our financial liability.

• Transportation between Telluride and Ouray is not included, but is available for an extra charge

• Personal clothing and equipment per our equipment list (please, just ask us if you need anything!)

• Meals

• Accommodation in Colorado

• Travel and/or rescue insurance

• Costs incurred due to evacuation or unplanned departure from the climbing area due to illness or other problems

• Costs incurred as a result of delays beyond the control of Mountain Trip

• Customary gratuities for guides

• Costs as a result of force majeure

General Agreement Concerning Services to be Provided And Responsibilities of Team Members

When registering for a climb with Mountain Trip we want to help make sure you understand the services we are providing and the services you are responsible for.

Transportation is incidental

The main purpose of becoming a team member is to join us on a climb in the mountains. As such any transportation we provide or that you may contract for on your own is incidental to the trip. We suggest that you make sure you have time built into your itinerary for delays.

Transportation to and from your destination

We will designate a specific Team Meeting Day for your climb. Transportation to the meeting point on your Team Meeting Day is to be provided by you, unless otherwise arranged with Mountain Trip. You must arrive in time to be ready to participate in a team meeting at the appointed time on the Team Meeting Day for your climb. This probably means you will need to arrive the day before, as it is often prudent to get an early start in the morning. Climbing is very dynamic and we will provide you with a recommendation as to when you should book your flights to and from your destination or how you might best arrange your travel to SW Colorado. If flying, we suggest you book a ticket that allows you to change your flight with little effort or cost.

Lodging off the Mountain

Mountain Trip will provide lodging per the Inclusions and Exclusions section above. Any additional lodging is your responsibility.

Responsibilities of Team Members

You are ultimately responsible for your own well-being, including making all necessary preparations to ensure good health and physical conditioning. You are responsible for understanding the conditions that may exist on the climb and choosing a climb that is appropriate for your abilities and interests. You are responsible for having knowledge of all pre-departure information and for assembling the appropriate clothing and equipment for your climb.

While on the climb, team members are responsible to maintain basic levels of hygiene and to conduct themselves respectfully with other team members and members of the local population. If a guide feels that a team member is putting other members’ health or safety at risk, the guide has the discretion to remove a team member from a climb.

Use our office staff and your lead guide as pre-trip resources to ensure that all your questions are answered. Travel insurance may help recoup expenses if you need to leave a climb due to an illness.

Length:

Two full days of instruction and climbing.

Difficulty:

to

Intro to Ice Course:

Two Days of group instruction
$420 per person (3 climber minimum. Includes all equipment.)

February 22-23

March 8-9

Intermediate/Advanced Ice Course:

Two Days of group instruction
$475 per person (3 climber minimum. Includes all equipment.)

Spent the day with Clint Cook climbing, learning how to build anchors, and refreshing some skills. Felt safe the whole time and learned a bunch. Thanks!

Colby B.

My wife and I were in Telluride and decided to do the Via Ferrata. It was a great time and we really enjoyed it.
Our guide Jesse was awesome! His number one priority was our safety. All the staff were really friendly and helpful. I definitely recommend this trip and this company.
-Telluride Via Ferrata 2018

David S.

The whole trip was wonderful, it was a great experience and also the staff was super friendly and very safe. Would definitely recommend!
-Telluride Via Ferrata 2018

Chris T.

Everyone at Mountain Trip was amazing to work with! They were encouraging, professional, personal – just incredible!! Our guide was Kristin, and she was outstanding!!!! Exceptional company for such an incredible experience!!
-Telluride Via Ferrata 2018

S. Chen

Booked this adventure a week before we arrived in Telluride – wasn’t sure what to expect but it was absolutely amazing. As adventure travellers (we were passing through Telluride enroute to Jackson Hole, WY to summit Grand Teton) we can be hard to impress – but the Via Ferrata route and equally as important, our guides from Mountain Trip did not disappoint.
I did this with my 12 year old son and our guide was very tuned in to his age / unique needs (he was the only kid in our group). I think there are other Via Ferrata guides in the area but I can’t imagine them being better than Mountain Trip.
-Telluride Via Ferrata 2018

HG Pilot

The staff, reservation and guidance was awesome. My guide Kristin Arnold was phenomenal! Absolutely love the hike and her expertise made it so much more memorable. I’ll be back and will definitely tell my friends! Mountain trip is the best!
-Telluride Via Ferrata 2018

MTI Waiver

2016 PARTICIPANT AGREEMENT, RELEASE AND ASSUMPTION OF RISK

In consideration of the services of Mountain Trip International LLC, their agents, owners, officers, volunteers, participants, employees, and all other persons or entities acting in any capacity on their behalf (hereinafter collectively referred to as "MTI"), I hereby agree to release, indemnify, and discharge MTI, on behalf of myself, my spouse, my children, my parents, my heirs, assigns, personal representative and estate as follows:

1. I acknowledge that mountaineering in foreign countries entails known and unanticipated risks that could result in physical or emotional injury, paralysis, death, or damage to myself, to property, or to third parties. I understand that such risks simply cannot be eliminated without jeopardizing the essential qualities of the activity.

The risks include, among other things: the hazards of walking on uneven terrain and slips and falls; being struck by rock fall, icefall or other objects dislodged or thrown from above; the use of climbing ropes and equipment; the forces of nature, including lightning, weather changes and avalanche; the risks of falling off the rock, mountain or into a crevasse; the risks of exposure to insect bites; encounters with animals and wildlife; the risk of altitude and cold including hypothermia, frostbite, acute mountain sickness, cerebral and pulmonary edema; travel in remote areas with poor or no access to emergency and/or medical services; consumption of food or drink; and improper lifting or carrying; my own physical condition, and the physical exertion associated with this activity. Foreign countries have their own laws and standards of acceptable conduct; food and water related illnesses; foreign political, legal, social, transportation, health, and economic conditions; different standards of design, safety, and maintenance of buildings, public places, and conveyances; local & medical facilities and providers; weather conditions; criminal activity, environmental hazards; standards of living and health standards that are not equivalent to life in the United States.

Furthermore, MTI employees have difficult jobs to perform. They seek safety, but they are not infallible. They might be unaware of a participant's fitness or abilities. They might misjudge the weather, other environmental conditions. They might misjudge whether the terrain is safe for travel or where or when an avalanche may occur. They may give incomplete warnings or instructions, and the equipment being used might malfunction.

2. I expressly agree and promise to accept and assume all of the risks existing in this activity. My participation in this activity is purely voluntary, and I elect to participate in spite of the risks.

3. I hereby voluntarily release, forever discharge, and agree to indemnify and hold harmless MTI from any and all claims, demands, or causes of action, which are in any way connected with my participation in this activity or my use of MTI’s equipment or facilities, including any such claims which allege negligent acts or omissions of MTI.

4. Should MTI or anyone acting on their behalf, be required to incur attorney's fees and costs to enforce this agreement, I agree to indemnify and hold them harmless for all such fees and costs.

5. I certify that I have adequate insurance to cover any injury or damage I may cause or suffer while participating, or else I agree to bear the costs of such injury or damage myself. I further certify that I am willing to assume the risk of any medical or physical condition I may have.

6. In the event that I file a lawsuit against MTI, I agree to do so solely in the state of Colorado, and I further agree that the substantive law of that state shall apply in that action without regard to the conflict of law rules of that state. I agree that if any portion of this agreement is found to be void or unenforceable, the remaining portions shall remain in full force and effect.

By signing this document, I acknowledge that if anyone is hurt or property is damaged during my participation in this activity, I may be found by a court of law to have waived my right to maintain a lawsuit against MTI on the basis of any claim from which I have released them herein.

I have had sufficient opportunity to read this entire document. I have read and understood it, and I agree to be bound by its terms.

Name*

FirstLast

Email*

Signature*

Signature of Parent or Guardian if Participant is under 18 years of age

Date*

Untitled

Yes

I acknowledge that signing this form electronically under the Federal (15 U.S.C. §§ 7001) and Colorado (C.R.S. 24-71-101) Electronic signature act is the same as signing the form in writing